Surface cleaning extractor

ABSTRACT

An extractor includes a body, a recovery tank coupled to the body, and a liquid tank coupled to the body. The liquid tank is configured to hold a liquid. The extractor includes a base pivotably coupled to the body and configured to support the body above a cleaning surface. The extractor includes a fluid distributor coupled to the base. The fluid distributor is in fluid communication with the liquid tank and configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto the cleaning surface. The extractor includes a brush roll removably coupled to the base and a nozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank. The nozzle is coupled to the base to block access to the brush roll. The nozzle is moveable relative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/928,689, filed Oct. 31, 2019, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to surface cleaning extractors, and moreparticularly to surface cleaning extractors including removable brushrolls.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an extractor includes a body, a recovery tank coupledto the body, and a liquid tank coupled to the body. The liquid tank isconfigured to hold a liquid. The extractor also includes a basepivotably coupled to the body and configured to support the body above acleaning surface. The extractor further includes a fluid distributorcoupled to the base. The fluid distributor is in fluid communicationwith the liquid tank and configured to dispense the liquid from theliquid tank onto the cleaning surface. The extractor further includes abrush roll removably coupled to the base and a nozzle in fluidcommunication with the recovery tank. The nozzle is coupled to the baseto block access to the brush roll. The nozzle is moveable relative tothe base and the fluid distributor allowing access to the brush roll andenabling removal of the brush roll from the base.

In another embodiment, an extractor includes a liquid tank configured tohold a liquid, a fluid distributor configured to dispense the liquidfrom the liquid tank onto a cleaning surface, a base supporting thefluid distributor, a brush roll coupled to the base, and a cover coupledto the base to block access to the brush roll. The cover is moveablerelative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to thebrush roll.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent byconsideration of the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning extractor including abody pivotably coupled to a base.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 1 with brush rollsremoved from the base.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the base of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of brush rolls of the surface cleaningextractor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 1 illustrating a coverremoved from the base allowing access to the brush rolls.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 1 illustrating onebrush roll being partially removed or partially inserted relative to thebase and another brush roll coupled to the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree,such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understoodby those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of thegiven value, for example, general tolerances associated withmanufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.

A surface cleaning extractor 10 (e.g., an upright-style carpetextractor) is illustrated in FIG. 1 positioned on a cleaning surface 15and includes a body 20 having a suction motor 25 pivotably coupled to abase 30 between an upright or storage position (FIG. 1) and an inclinedor operable position (not shown). The base 30 includes a fluiddistributor 175 (FIG. 2) configured to dispense liquid onto the surface15 to be cleaned and at least a first brush roll 65 a operably disposedin the base 30. The first brush roll 65 a is removable from the base 30through a top 75 of the base 30 adjacent the fluid distributor 175. Inother embodiments, the extractor 10 can be a portable handheld extractoror accessory, an upright-style vacuum cleaner with fluid distribution, acanister-style cleaner with fluid distribution, a power sweeper withfluid distribution, a hard floor cleaner, etc. For example, the base 30can be a handheld auxiliary attachment to the extractor 10. Theillustrated body 20 includes a handle 35 operable by a user to push theextractor 10 in a forward direction 40 or pull the extractor 10 in arearward direction 45. A liquid tank 50 is selectively coupled to thebody 20 or the base 30 in communication with the fluid distributor 175and holds a cleaning liquid (e.g., a mixture of water and cleaningsolution). Also, a recovery tank 55 is selectively coupled to the body20 or the base 30 and holds debris and dirty liquid collected by theextractor 10 from the cleaning surface 15 during operation.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 30 includes a head 60supporting the first brush roll 65 a and a second brush roll 65 b. Thehead 60 includes a bottom 70 that faces the cleaning surface 15 and thetop 75 opposite the bottom 70. The head 60 also includes a first sidewall 80, a second side wall 85 (FIG. 3) opposite the first side wall 80,and a lateral wall 90 extending between the first and second side walls80, 85. In addition, the walls 80, 85, 90 extend between the bottom 70and the top 75 of the head 60. Drive protrusions 95 a, 95 b are locatedon the first side wall 80 and are driven by an electric motor (notshown) coupled to the base 30. With reference to FIG. 3, supports 100 a,100 b are located on the second side wall 85 each positioned opposite acorresponding drive protrusion 95 a, 95 b. The drive protrusions 95 a,95 b and the supports 100 a, 100 b are operable to support the first andsecond brush rolls 65 a, 65 b to the base 30, as discussed in moredetail below. The first and second side walls 80, 85 and the lateralwall 90 define a cavity 105 of the base 30. The illustrated base 30 alsoincludes a front opening 110 opposite the lateral wall 90. In otherembodiments, the front opening 110 can be replaced by a wall extendingbetween the first and second side walls 80, 85 opposite the lateral wall90. In addition, the base 30 includes wheels (only one wheel 115 isshown in FIG. 1) that engage the cleaning surface 15 (e.g., carpet, hardwood floor, etc.) and enable movement of the extractor 10 in either theforward direction 40 or the rearward direction 45.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 30 also includes acover 120 (e.g., a transparent cover) selectively coupled to the base 30to cover the top 75 of the base 30 that defines a portion of the cavity105 and the front opening 110. The cover 120 includes a nozzle 125 influid communication with the recovery tank 55 by a passageway at leastdefined by an inlet 130 coupled to the top 75 of the head 60 and aflexible conduit 135 extending between the inlet 130 and the body 20.With references to FIG. 5, the nozzle 125 includes a nozzle passageway136 formed between an upper wall 137 of the nozzle 125 and a lower wall138 of the nozzle 125. The nozzle passageway 136 extends from a nozzleinlet 139 to a nozzle outlet 141. A latch 140 of the cover 120 engagesthe inlet 130 to secure the cover 120 to the base 30 with the nozzleoutlet 141 in communication with the inlet 130. In the illustratedembodiment, the cover 120 is completely disconnected from the base 30 byreleasing the latch 140 from the inlet 130 (FIG. 5). In otherembodiments, the cover 120 can remain coupled to the base 30 andmoveable (e.g., pivotable) between a closed or secured position and anopen position.

With reference to FIG. 4, each brush roll 65 a, 65 b includes deformablebrush members 145 a, 145 b (e.g., bristles) coupled to a brush roll body150 a, 150 b with each brush roll body 150 a, 150 b having a recess 155a, 155 b at one end operable to drivingly engage the corresponding driveprotrusions 95 a, 95 b, a base mount 160 a, 160 b at the other end, anda longitudinal axis 165 a, 165 b extending between the recess 155 a, 155b and the base mount 160 a, 160 b. Each base mount 160 a, 160 b isconfigured to releasably couple with corresponding supports 100 a, 100b. Each brush roll body 150 a, 150 b includes a maximum dimension 170measured perpendicular to its respective longitudinal axis 165 a, 165 b.A bearing is positioned between each base mount 160 a, 160 b and thecorresponding brush roll body 150 a, 150 b enabling the brush roll body150 a, 150 b to rotate about its longitudinal axis 165 a, 165 b relativeto the corresponding base mount 160 a, 160 b and supports 100 a, 100 b.In other embodiments, the drive protrusions 95 a, 95 b can be coupled tothe first and second brush rolls 65 a, 65 b and the correspondingrecesses 155 a, 155 b can be formed within the first side wall 80 of thebase 30. In further embodiments, various base mounts 160 a, 160 b can beprovided to couple the bearings and the supports 100 a, 100 b to installthe brush rolls 65 a, 65 b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluid distributor 175 is positionedwithin the cavity 105 and extends between the first and second sidewalls 80, 85 of the head 60. The fluid distributor 175 is spaced fromthe lateral wall 90 by a first dimension 180 measured parallel to theforward and rearward directions 40, 45. In the illustrated embodiment,the fluid distributor 175 is fixedly coupled to the head 60 and is influid communication with the liquid tank 50 to dispense the liquidwithin the liquid tank 50 onto the cleaning surface 15. In otherembodiments, the fluid distributor 175 is removable from the base 30. Inone embodiment, a pressurized liquid delivery system is coupled to theliquid tank 50 and the fluid distributor 175 to dispense liquid throughat least one nozzle of the fluid distributor 175 at a determinedpressure. In other embodiments, a gravity-feed liquid delivery system iscoupled to the liquid tank 50 and the fluid distributor 175 to dispenseliquid through the fluid distributor 175 due to gravity. In furtherembodiments, the fluid distributor 175 can be positioned in the frontopening 110 (e.g., in front of the second brush roll 65 b) or coupled tothe lateral wall 90 (e.g., behind the first brush roll 65 a). In furtherembodiments, the base 30 can include more than one fluid distributor175.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b areindependently removable from the base 30 to facilitate cleaning of thebrush rolls 65 a, 65 b. In particular, the cover 120 is disconnectedfrom the base 30 by actuating the latch 140 from the inlet 130 (FIG. 5).In other words, the cover 120 moves relative to the base 30 and thefluid distributor 175 allowing physical access to the brush rolls 65 a,65 b while the base 30 is supported on the cleaning surface 15. Forexample, once the cover 120 is opened or removed, which also fluidlydecouples the nozzle outlet 141 from the conduit 135, the user is ableto touch the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b to inspect the brush rolls 65 a, 65b and/or remove the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b from the base 30. As such,the cover 120 is movable relative to the base 30 to open the top 75 ofthe base 30 allowing removal of the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b from the base30 through the top 75 of the base 30 adjacent the fluid distributor 175.As shown in FIG. 6, the first brush roll 65 a is positioned between thefluid distributor 175 and the lateral wall 90 such that the first brushroll 65 a moves past the fluid distributor 175 in an upward verticaldirection 185 as the first brush roll 65 a is removed from the base 30.The vertical direction 185 is perpendicular to the forward and rearwarddirections 40, 45. In other embodiments, the vertical direction 185 canbe obliquely oriented relative to the directions 40, 45. In oneembodiment, an intermediate cover is provided between the cover 120 andthe brush roll 65 a, 65 b that is accessible and openable or removablewhen the cover 120 is disconnected. Also, the fluid distributor 175 ispositioned on the base 30 as to not impede removal of the brush rolls 65a, 65 b. Accordingly, the cover 120 and the fluid distributor 175 allowfor easy access, removal, and cleaning of the brush rolls 65 a, 65 bwhile the extractor 10 is in the upright position (FIG. 1).

Once the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b are removed and cleaned, the brush rolls65 a, 65 b are independently coupled to the base 30. In particular, whenthe cover 120 is removed from the base 30, the first brush roll 65 a isinsertable into the cavity 105 between the fluid distributor 175 and thelateral wall 90 in a downward vertical direction 190 from the top 75 tothe bottom 70 of the base 30. The downward vertical direction 190 isopposite the upward direction 185. In other embodiments, the downwardvertical direction 190 can be obliquely oriented relative to the forwardand rearward directions 40, 45. The first dimension 180 of the base 30is greater than the maximum dimension 170 of the first brush roll 65 aallowing the first brush roll 65 a to be inserted between the lateralwall 90 and the fluid distributor 175. In some embodiments, the firstdeformable brush members 145 a can include a dimension greater than thefirst dimension 180 of the base 30 causing the first deformable brushmembers 145 a to contact the lateral wall 90 and/or the fluiddistributor 175 and deform while the first brush roll 65 a is insertedinto the cavity 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the first recess 155a receives the first drive protrusion 95 a to provide a pivot point forthe first brush roll 65 a to then pivot the first base mount 160 a intoengagement with the first support 100 a. The engagement between thefirst base mount 160 a and the first support 100 a can be a snap fitengagement, or the like, to hold the first brush roll 65 a to the base30. Accordingly, the first drive protrusion 95 a is operable to drivethe first brush roll 65 a about a first rotational axis concentric withits longitudinal axis 165 a while the first support 100 a and the firstbase mount 160 a support rotational movement of the first brush roll 65a.

The second brush roll 65 b can be coupled to the base 30 in a similarmanner as the first brush roll 65 a. When the cover 120 is removed fromthe base 30, the second brush roll 65 b is inserted into the cavity 105between the fluid distributor 175 and the front opening 110 in thedownward direction 190. The second brush roll 65 b can also be coupledto the base 30 by inserting the second brush roll 65 b through the frontopening 110 in a rearward horizontal direction 195 perpendicular to thedownward direction 190 (e.g., parallel to the rearward direction 45). Inother embodiments, the second brush roll 65 b can be inserted into thecavity 105 at any angle between the downward direction 190 and thehorizontal direction 195. In the illustrated embodiment, the secondrecess 155 b receives the second drive protrusion 95 b to provide apivot point for the second brush roll 65 b to then pivot the second basemount 160 b into engagement with the second support 100 b. Theengagement between the second base mount 160 b and the second support100 b can be a snap fit engagement, or the like, to hold the secondbrush roll 65 b to the base 30. Accordingly, the second drive protrusion95 b is operable to drive the second brush roll 65 b about a secondrotational axis concentric with its longitudinal axis 165 b while thesecond support 100 b and the second base mount 160 b support rotationalmovement of the second brush roll 65 b. In one embodiment, the steps tocouple the first and second brush rolls 65 a, 65 b to the base 30 arereversed to remove the first and second brush rolls 65 a, 65 b from thebase 30.

With reference back to FIG. 1, the cover 120 is coupled to the base 30by actuating the latch 140 on the inlet 130, thus blocking access to thebrush rolls 65 a, 65 b as the base 30 is supported on the surface 15. Inthe embodiments where the fluid distributor 175 is releasable from thebase 30, the fluid distributor 175 is manually coupled to the base 30 bythe user before the cover 120 is coupled to the base 30. In otherembodiments, the fluid distributor 175 is coupled to the base 30 inresponse to the cover 120 being coupled to the base 30. Once the cover120 is coupled to the base 30, the extractor 10 is operable to collectdebris from the cleaning surface 15. In particular, the suction motor 25provides an airflow from the nozzle inlet 139 through the nozzlepassageway 136 and the conduit 135 to the recovery tank 55 to drawdebris into the recovery tank 55. The brush rolls 65 a, 65 b are drivenabout their rotational axes 165 a, 165 b to agitate the cleaning surface15 to loosen debris that is attached to or embedded in the cleaningsurface 15 allowing the airflow to more easily collect the debris. Thecleaning liquid within the liquid tank 50 is selectively applied to thecleaning surface 15 by the fluid distributor 175 to help further loosenthe debris and clean the surface 15. The fluid distributor 175 ispositioned between the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b such that the cleaningliquid is dispensed between the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b. In addition, thefluid distributor 175 is positioned above the rotational axes 165 a, 165b of the brush rolls 65 a, 65 b in the upward direction 185, thus insome embodiments, some of the cleaning liquid is dispensed directly ontothe brush rolls 65 a, 65 b (e.g., to help clean the brush rolls 65 a, 65b during operation).

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modification exist withinthe scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the inventionas described. Various features of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. An extractor comprising: a body; a recovery tank coupled to the body;a liquid tank coupled to the body, the liquid tank configured to hold aliquid; a base pivotably coupled to the body and configured to supportthe body above a cleaning surface; a fluid distributor coupled to thebase, the fluid distributor in fluid communication with the liquid tankand configured to dispense the liquid from the liquid tank onto thecleaning surface; a brush roll removably coupled to the base; and anozzle in fluid communication with the recovery tank, the nozzle coupledto the base to block access to the brush roll, the nozzle moveablerelative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to thebrush roll and enabling removal of the brush roll from the base.
 2. Theextractor of claim 1, wherein the fluid distributor is fixed to thebase.
 3. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the fluid distributor isreleasably coupled to the base.
 4. The extractor of claim 3, wherein thefluid distributor is releasable from the base as the nozzle movesrelative to the base.
 5. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the nozzledisconnects from the base allowing access to the brush roll.
 6. Theextractor of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is movable relative to the baseto open a top of the base, and wherein the brush roll is removable fromthe base through the top of the base.
 7. The extractor of claim 6,wherein the brush roll is positioned between the fluid distributor and aportion of the base such that the brush roll moves past the fluiddistributor as the brush roll is removed from the base.
 8. The extractorof claim 1, wherein the base includes a first side wall, a second sidewall, and a lateral wall extending between the first and second sidewalls, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and thelateral wall define a cavity in which the brush roll is received whencoupled to the base, and wherein the brush roll is inserted between thefluid distributor and the lateral wall to be coupled to the base.
 9. Theextractor of claim 8, wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom,wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface, andwherein the brush roll is coupled to the base by inserting the brushroll into the cavity in a direction from the top toward the bottom. 10.The extractor of claim 9, wherein the brush roll is driven about arotational axis and includes a plurality of deformable brush memberscoupled to a brush roll body, wherein a first dimension is measured in adirection perpendicular to the rotational axis between the lateral walland the fluid distributor, and wherein the first dimension is greaterthan a maximum dimension of the brush roll body measured parallel to thefirst dimension.
 11. The extractor of claim 1, wherein the brush roll isdriven about a rotational axis, and wherein the brush roll is coupled tothe base for the rotational axis to be positioned behind the fluiddistributor in a forward direction of travel of the extractor.
 12. Theextractor of claim 11, wherein the brush roll is a first brush roll andthe rotational axis is a first rotational axis, wherein the extractorincludes a second brush roll removably coupled to the base, wherein thesecond brush roll is driven about a second rotational axis, and whereinthe second brush roll is coupled to the base for the second rotationalaxis to be positioned forward of the fluid distributor in the forwarddirection of travel of the extractor.
 13. The extractor of claim 12,wherein the base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom isconfigured to face the cleaning surface, wherein the first brush roll iscoupled to the base by inserting the first brush roll in a verticaldirection from the top toward the bottom, wherein the base includes afront opening, and wherein the second brush roll is coupled to the baseby inserting the second brush roll in the vertical direction or ahorizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction through thefront opening.
 14. An extractor comprising: a liquid tank configured tohold a liquid; a fluid distributor configured to dispense the liquidfrom the liquid tank onto a cleaning surface; a base supporting thefluid distributor; a brush roll coupled to the base; and a cover coupledto the base to block access to the brush roll, the cover moveablerelative to the base and the fluid distributor allowing access to thebrush roll.
 15. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the fluid distributoris fixed to the base.
 16. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the fluiddistributor is releasably coupled to the base.
 17. The extractor ofclaim 16, wherein the fluid distributor is releasable from the base asthe cover moves relative to the base.
 18. The extractor of claim 14,wherein the cover is a nozzle configured to direct the liquid from thecleaning surface to a recovery tank of the extractor.
 19. The extractorof claim 14, wherein the cover disconnects from the base allowing accessto the brush roll.
 20. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the cover ismovable relative to the base to open a top of the base, and wherein thebrush roll is removable from the base through the top of the base. 21.The extractor of claim 20, wherein the brush roll is positioned betweenthe fluid distributor and a portion of the base such that the brush rollmoves past the fluid distributor as the brush roll is removed from thebase.
 22. The extractor of claim 14, wherein the brush roll is removablycoupled to the base, and wherein the cover is moveable relative to thebase allowing access to the brush roll and enabling removal of the brushroll from the base.
 23. The extractor of claim 22, wherein the baseincludes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a lateral wallextending between the first and second side walls, wherein the firstside wall, the second side wall, and the lateral wall define a cavity inwhich the brush roll is received when coupled to the base, and whereinthe brush roll is inserted between the fluid distributor and the lateralwall to be coupled to the base.
 24. The extractor of claim 23, whereinthe base includes a top opposite a bottom, wherein the bottom isconfigured to face the cleaning surface, and wherein the brush roll iscoupled to the base by inserting the brush roll into the cavity in adirection from the top toward the bottom.
 25. The extractor of claim 24,wherein a first dimension is measured in a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal axis of the brush roll between the lateral wall and thefluid distributor, wherein the brush roll includes a plurality ofdeformable brush members coupled to a brush roll body, and wherein thefirst dimension is greater than a maximum dimension of the brush rollbody measured parallel to the first dimension.
 26. The extractor ofclaim 14, wherein the brush roll is coupled to the base for alongitudinal axis of the brush roll to be positioned behind the fluiddistributor in a forward direction of travel of the extractor.
 27. Theextractor of claim 26, wherein the brush roll is a first brush roll andthe longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, wherein theextractor includes a second brush roll coupled to the base, and whereinthe second brush roll is coupled to the base for a second longitudinalaxis of the second brush roll to be positioned forward of the fluiddistributor in the forward direction of travel of the extractor.
 28. Theextractor of claim 27, wherein the base includes a top opposite abottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face the cleaning surface,and wherein the first brush roll is selectively coupled to the base byinserting the first brush roll in a vertical direction from the toptoward the bottom, wherein the base includes a front opening, andwherein the second brush roll is selectively coupled to the base byinserting the second brush roll in the vertical direction or ahorizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction through thefront opening.